Half marathon on Saturday, Sept. 22, to close some roads around Vanderbilt

Staff, faculty and students coming to Vanderbilt on Saturday, Sept. 22, should be aware that the Lady Speed Stick Women’s Half Marathon that morning will result in road closures in the downtown, Vanderbilt and Hillsboro/West End areas.

The organizers’ suggested route to campus that morning is to take I-40/65 and get off at the Broadway exit (209 A-B), turn west on Broadway/West End, and get to campus that way.

Even those coming from the south may want to get on the interstate and use this approach. This is because West End will be closed at 31st Avenue S., with officers allowing only a few cars through at a time, and, in the same manner, 21st Avenue South will be closed at Portland Avenue, with only a few cars getting through between runners at officers’ discretion.

Organizers note that backups will likely occur at both points.

After 9 a.m., Church Street and the Church Street exit off I-40 will re-open and this route also will be available to and from Vanderbilt:

• Use I-40, exiting at the Church Street exit.

• If taking the northbound exit off I-40, go west (left) on Church Street, then south (left) on 14th Avenue North after crossing over the interstate

• If taking the southbound exit off I-40, go south on 14th Avenue North, then west (right) on Broadway/West End Ave and proceed to Vanderbilt.

After 9:15 a.m., West End at 31st and Blakemore will re-open and staff can access Vanderbilt from I-440 via the West End Ave exit.

Most road closures begin at 6 a.m. and roads will reopen as runners pass. Almost all roads will be reopened by noon or shortly afterward.

Comprehensive road closure information is here. A map of the course is here.